Five picks for October

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (historical fiction) – Set in the fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio, this character-driven tale weaves together the stories of two couples – Becky and Cal Jenkins and Margaret and Felix Salt. The couples are bound by a secret, and secrets do not stay hidden forever, especially in a small town. Ryan captures life in rural America beautifully across four decades that include both World War II and the Vietnam War, and the manner in which both events impacted and altered those living in Bonhomie. The characters are well developed, the sense of place is very strong, and the time period provides a rich background. This epic saga expertly delves into the themes of love, betrayal, secrets, acceptance, and forgiveness as well as addressing the often long-lasting impact of questionable choices. This one will appeal to readers who love family dramas and stories spanning decades as well as beautiful writing.

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben (thriller) – Thriller writer Harlan Coben and Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, founder of Reese’s Book Club/Hello Sunshine, collaborated to create this page turner, interweaving in cutting-edge technology, AI, and an uber-wealthy setting. Following a crushing loss, Maggie McCabe loses her medical license. When she is approached about an off-the-books surgery for an anonymous, elite client, she accepts and performs the surgery. But when the client goes missing right after the procedure is performed, Maggie realizes that all is not as it seems. The book is engaging from beginning to end, but the true standout is the novel manner in which grief is addressed and discussed, especially for a thriller, and those aspects of the book have stayed with me long after I finished the book. This one is great for readers who like thought-provoking premises, fast-paced stories, and novels about technology.

The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton (historical fiction) – One book connects three women in The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes, which spans three time periods. In 2024, Margo, who lives in London, is hired to find a rare book (only one copy exists) that is more than 120 years old. In 1966, Pilar is working as a librarian in Havana during the Castro regime, and she is tasked with protecting books, including a mysterious 60-year-old book, from the government. In 1900, Eva Fuentes visits the United States as an exchange student during a massive push for Cuban independence. After her trip to the United States, she writes the book that ties these women together. Cuban history is woven through all three timelines, and readers will love the immersive story and descriptive writing. The women’s stories tie together beautifully, something that can be tricky with three time periods, and the timeless appeal of a story about the power of books will resonate as well. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is for fans of unique settings, learning about other cultures and countries, and books about books.

The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman (historical fiction) – Loosely based on real events, The Missing Pages is a lovingly-crafted tribute to books, the power of love to mitigate loss, and the manner in which the past coexists with the present. Harry Widener, a young book collector from a wealthy and prominent family, boards the Titanic with his parents. When the ship begins to sink, he races back to his cabin to save a rare item, and he is never seen again. To honor his memory, cement his legacy, and house his expansive book collection, his mother creates the Harry Widener Memorial Library at Harvard. Decades later, Harvard sophomore Violet Hutchins begins working as a page at the Widener Library. Grieving her own loss, she begins to wonder if someone from the past is communicating with her. Richman brings the past to life with fascinating descriptions of the Widener Library and the Titanic, and the focus on books and the manner in which they bring people together make this one a fabulous read. This one is a good fit for fans of stories based on true events and books about books.

She Kills: The Murderous Socialite, the Cross-Dressing Bank Robber, and Other True Crime Tales by Skip Hollandsworth (nonfiction) – Since he joined Texas Monthly in 1989, Skip Hollandsworth has written a plethora of true crime stories, covering the genre before it exploded into the national zeitgeist on podcasts, documentaries, and television shows. In She Kills, he revisits some of his most memorable cases, focusing on crimes carried out by women, because women often commit crimes for different reasons than men. Each case contains drawings, photos, and a postscript updating the story from his original reporting, and a number of the cases prove the adage that “truth is stranger than fiction.” This book will appeal to fans of true crime, books about the human psyche, and stories set in Texas. 

Editor’s note: Book reviewer Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column. She hosts an award-winning book podcast entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.